Monthly Archives: December 2014

NASCAR Modified star Charlie Jarzombek to be inducted in the Class of 2015 of the NY State Hall of Fame on Jan. 24

The late Charlie Jarzombek will be inducted into the NY State Racing HOF on Jan 24, 2015.  (Credit: NASCAR archives.)

The late Charlie Jarzombek will be inducted into the NY State Racing HOF on Jan 24, 2015. (Credit: NASCAR archives.)

By Lou Modestino

A trio of outstanding drivers and two highly respected promoters will comprise the 2015 Hall of Fame class of the New York State Stock Car Association. Dirt track heroes Pete Bicknell and Kenny Brightbill will be joined by the late asphalt star Charlie Jarzombek on the driver’s side, while Marcia Wetmore and Howard Commander were elected for their accomplishments in speedway management and promotion. Continue reading

Griffith is ready to get a jump on the 2015 racing season at New Smyrna Speedway on Jan. 3, 2015

 

New Hampshire Pro Stock driver Derek Griffith will be getting a jump on the racing season when he competes in the Red Eye 100 at New Smyrna Speedway in Fla. this weekend. (Credit: Erik LeFlech photo.)

New Hampshire Pro Stock driver Derek Griffith will be getting a jump on the racing season when he competes in the Red Eye 100 at New Smyrna Speedway in Fla. this weekend. (Credit: Erik LaFlech photo.)

By Lou Modestino

Derek Griffith, the standout driver from New Hampshire, will travel to the Sunshine state to compete at the historic New Smyrna Speedway (NSS) in the 2015 Red Eye 100.

The Red Eye is the recognized as the first Super Late Model race of the new year and has a rich history of very talented drivers winding up in victory lane. Griffith will pilot his No. 12 MOM’s of Manchester/LCM Racing Toyota Camry in what he hopes is a tune-up as the teenager will also compete in the NSS Speedweeks in mid-February as well.

“I really enjoy NSS, it’s almost like Thompson, the first thing we need to do is make sure we get in to the show and we really have a hot set-up that Louie (Crew Chief Louie Mechalides of Tyngsboro) put’s in the car. It’s going to be awesome to get back behind the wheel after such a short off-season,” stated Griffith.

Derek is still a senior in High School and is looking forward to graduating and he hasn’t yet decided on what his future holds, as far as furthering his education. One thing is for certain, there will be more racing. Griffith added, “Getting done with High School is my main priority right now. As far as what comes after High School, I have some opportunities to pursue diesel mechanics at a couple different schools in Ohio.  I’m not sure what I am going to be doing but I do know that I’ll be racing as much as I possibly can”.

Griffith recently finished 23rd in the 49th Annual Florida Governor’s Cup held at NSS back on November 23, 2014.

Derek talked about that race, “We had a much better car than our 23rd place finish indicates. We didn’t perform as well as we would have liked.  So this time around I hope to really show everyone what our New Hampshire based race team is all about. Getting our Tyngsboro Motors Toyota on the podium would be sweet redemption.”

The Red Eye 100 is scheduled for January 3, 2015.

Source: PR/Photo – Eric LaFlech

Justin Bonsignore will run Stafford’s Sk Modified division in 2015 for noted car builder Art Barry

 

 

Long Island's Justin Bonsignore will be going back to weekly racing in 2015 at the wheel of an Art Barry Sk Modified machine.  (Credit: NASCAR Home Track photo.)

Long Island’s Justin Bonsignore will be going back to weekly racing at Stafford Motor Speedway in 2015 at the wheel of an Art Barry Sk Modified machine. (Credit: NASCAR Home Track photo.)

By Lou Modestino

As number registrations continue to file in and the Stafford Motor Speedway NASCAR Whelen All-American Series rosters begin to take shape, the track’s premier SK Modified® division has just added another NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour driver for the 2015 season. Reigning Valenti Modified Racing Series champion Justin Bonsignore will join the SK Modified® ranks behind the wheel of Art Barry’s #21 car and will race for the championship  Continue reading

Sk Modified and Late Champion Keith Rocco to race in the ACT Challenge at New Smyrna Speedway during Feb SpeedWeeks

Meriden, CT driver Keith Rocco is at home driving both Modified and Late Model race cars and heads to the New Smyrna Speedway to compete in the ACT American Race Challenge.  (Credit: NASCAR Home Tracks photo)

Meriden, CT driver Keith Rocco is at home driving both Modified and Late Model race cars and heads to the New Smyrna Speedway to compete in the ACT American Race Challenge in mid-Feb. (Credit: NASCAR Home Tracks photo)

Lou Modestino

Keith Rocco from Meriden, CT is a 2010 NASCAR National Champion, has three (3) NASCAR SK Modified championships at the Waterford Speedbowl, two (2) ACT type Late Model Championships at the Speedbowl, and too numerous feature event wins in the heart of Modified country, Connecticut, to list. His next challenge is to head to the New Smyrna World Series of Asphalt Racing and enter the American Canadian Tour (ACT) American Racer Challenge Series on Monday and Tuesday, February 16-17, 2015. Continue reading

Andy Jankowiak takes 40 lap Battle of Trenton TQ Midget feature

Buffalo, NY's Andy Jankowiak won the 40 lap TQ Midget feature at the Battle of Trenton in NJ.(Credit: Speed 51 photo)

Buffalo, NY’s Andy Jankowiak won the 40 lap TQ Midget feature at the Battle of Trenton in NJ. (Credit: Speed 51 photo)

By Lou Modestino

Buffalo, N.Y. driver Andy Jankowiak started up front and finished there at the end of the 40-lap Battle Of Trenton TQ Midget feature Saturday night in Sun National Bank Center. Jankowiak was challenged by any number of racers who made it as far as second place only to be taken out by accidents or mechanical problems. Ryan Flores of Mooresville, N.C., was the eventual runner-up in the Len Sammons Motorsports Productions (LSRP) event. Continue reading

Devil’s Bowl Speedway will crown it’s champions on Saturday, January 31, 2015

Modified champion Todd Stone of Middlebury, VT will be among many drivers, on both the paved half-mile and 1/3 mile dirt tracks, will be honored at tracks' 2014 Annual Awards banquet on January 31 in Rutland, VT.  (Credit: Speed 51 photo.)

Modified champion Todd Stone of Middlebury, VT will be among many drivers, on both the paved half-mile and 1/3 mile dirt tracks, that will be honored at the Devil’s Bowl Speedway’s 2014 Annual Awards banquet on January 31, 2015 in Rutland, VT. (Credit: Speed 51 photo.)

By Lou Modestino

Devil’s Bowl Speedway will officially wrap up its 2014 stock car racing season with the annual Banquet of Champions on Saturday, January 31. The event will again be held in the Ballroom at the Holiday Inn Rutland/Killington in Rutland, VT. Continue reading

Connecticut’s Ted Christopher and Erik Rudolph take Trenton indoor 3/4 Midget features

Connecticut's Ted Christopher still hasn't lost his prowess to win an open wheel race. He won the first TQ feature of the night in the Battle of Trenton indoor races,  (Credit: YankeeRacer photo)

Connecticut’s Ted Christopher still hasn’t lost his touch to win an open wheel race. He won the first TQ feature of the night in the Battle of Trenton (NJ) indoor races, (Credit: YankeeRacer photo)

By Lou Modestino

Erick Rudolph of Ransomville, N.Y., and Ted Christopher of Plainville, Ct., flexed their muscles Friday in the Battle Trenton Three Quarter (TQ) Midget Twin Twenty Lap feature races inside Sun National Bank Center in Trenton. Continue reading

NASCAR announces schedules for 2015 North and South Whelen Modified Tours

NASCAR Whelen Modified Tours will have race dates in both the north and southeast and some events at NASCAR Super Speedways in 2015.  (Credit: NASCAR Home Track photo)

NASCAR Whelen Modified Tours will have shoirt track race dates in both the northeast and southeast and some events at NASCAR Super Speedways in 2015. (Credit: NASCAR Home Track photo)

By Lou Modestino

NASCAR announced today its 2015 schedules for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour and NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour. Continue reading

Rhode Island’s Ray Parent heads to New Smyrna Speedway for Florida Speed Weeks,

Ray Parent of Tiverton, RI is expected to be very competitive in the ACT Tour Cup at New Smyrna Speedway in Florida during Speed Weeks in February. (Credit: ACT Tour photo)

Ray Parent of Tiverton, RI is expected to be a serious contender in the ACT Tour Cup at New Smyrna Speedway in Florida during Speed Weeks in February. (Credit: ACT Tour photo)

By Lou Modestino

In 2011, Ray Parent from Tiverton, Rhode Island, decided to start his full-time American Canadian Tour (ACT) career at the inaugural event to be held at the New Smyrna Speedway (NSS) during the World Series of Asphalt Racing in February of that year. Parent had raced primarily at the famous D.A. Vendetti “Cement Palace”, Seekonk Speedway, a typical ¼ mile bullring that New England racing is known for. Continue reading

Granite State Pro Stock Series releases an 11 race schedule for 2015

Dillon Moltz will be the center of attention at the GSPSS awards banquet on Jan. 10 in Manchester, NH. (Credit Speed 51 photo)

Champion Dillon Moltz will be the center of attention at the GSPSS awards banquet on Jan. 10 in Manchester, NH. (Credit Speed 51 photo)

By Lou Modestino

With the New Year just a few weeks away, the Granite State Pro Stock Series (GSPSS) has been hard at work in preparing for the 2015 season. The result is an eleven-race diverse schedule with a return to two different speedways, formerly on the young touring series schedule. Continue reading